A new group - the Landlord Leaders Community – has been set up to bring the sector together and provide practical tools for the PRS.

It hopes to facilitate education and training, communication, collaboration, and positive industry perception by working with industry associations, government bodies, and educational institutions.

This would then lead into developing and delivering training courses and workshops. Instigated by mortgage lender, the OSB Group, its community leaders consist of brokers and finance experts along with a landlord, an estate agent and Propertymark’s Timothy Douglas.

Different mindset

Jon Hall, group MD, mortgages and savings at OSB Group, tells LandlordZONE its research found a different mindset among professional landlords – who were often positive about their investments and thinking long-term – and amateur landlords. It wants to promote this positive message as well as reduce the gap between the two groups. “We want to build a connection with the NRLA and the property market, conveyancers and lobbying individuals,” he says.

Conversations within the community might then feed into lobbying or working to improve understanding, adds Hall. “We’re committed to the long-term and are about facilitating positive action – talking, but then producing tangible things.”

Tenant research

Future plans include tenant research to help landlords understand how they’re using properties and agents, talking to advisors about ways to educate landlords on tax and legal structures, as well as looking at the technology that provides advice on retrofitting with a view to developing practical tools for landlords.

Suzanne Smith, a landlord with four properties in Kent who writes the Independent Landlord Blog, is already an accredited NRLA member but joined the new group as she particularly wants to promote the importance of responsible landlords. “The issues facing the PRS are complex but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to achieve positive change,” she tells LandlordZONE. “I wanted to be involved in trying to create a fair sector for everyone.”